Malad flat owner, broker cheat widow of Rs 83 lakh

The duo took the 54-year-old’s savings, promising a two bedroom flat in Malad and later refused to handover the flat or give the money back

A 54-year-old widow has been cheated by a flat owner and real estate broker under the pretext of selling her a flat worth Rs 1.18 crore.

54-year-old Sanjeevani Thakre had paid R83 lakh to the accused who then refused to return the money

The accused, Ajay Jain and broker Manish Marodia, had taken Rs 83 lakh from the complainant, Sanjeevani Thakre, and later refused to return the money. A case is registered with the Malad police against the duo, following which they were booked on charges of cheating and forgery.

Copspeak“Last year, the owner of a flat in Sundar Jamnotri at Malad, Jain sold his flat to Thakre for Rs 1.18 crore. She paid Rs 47 lakh in cash and Rs 31 lakh via cheque in the presence of five witnesses. However, Jain later refused to handover the flat and got away without signing an agreement,” said Ramesh Wagh, assistant police inspector at Malad station.

However, according to the police, while they have substantial evidence against the duo, the Borivli court has not yet accepted their application, making it difficult for them to proceed with the investigations. “The court is not helping us, and it is reducing the citizen’s trust on police. We also have Jain’s statement claiming he will return the money that he took from Thakre.”

Speaking to mid-day, Thakre said, “I had two one room kitchen flats in Malad which I sold to buy a new two bedroom flat. I have given all my money to Jain but he cheated me. I registered the complaint last month and hope that the court and police will give me justice.”